Bulb adjuster



Feb. .18, 1930. G. H. COULTER BULB ADJUSTER Original Filed April 27, 1925 GW H. Cim-rs;

Patented Feb. 18, 1930 ATNT GUY H. COULTER, 0F I-IIGI-ILAII'D PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MONOGRAM LENS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BULB ADJUSTER Application filed April 27, 1925, Serial` No. 263177. Renewed July 18, 1928.y

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a bulb adjuster adapted for use particularly with headlights having a reflector and utilizing a bulb. y

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a rotatable means mounted upon the casing of the headlight which will affect a vertical adjustment of the light bulb upon rotation thereof, and a second rotatable means mounted upon the first means which upon roation will affect an axial adjustment of the ulb.

Other objects relating to economies of construction and methods of manufacture will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the present invention, the means used for eecting axial adjustment comprises ,a screw projected through aV pinion bearing nut, adapted for effecting vertical adjustment, so that on the rear of the headlight, there is but a single projection, so that the appearance of the headlight is improved.

In effecting the vertical adjustment of the lamp bulb in devices previously known to me, some clamping means has been utilized for securing the bulb in adjusted position. One example of this clamping means is anauxiliary screw provided with a nut which is first looscned to permit of the adjustment, and then tightened. after the adjustment has been made. In such an arrangement, there are a plurality of operating parts which have to be handled by the one adjusting the bulb, which consumes considerable time. After the adjustment has been made, when the clamping device is being tightened, a slight slipping of the bulb, out of its adjusted position, might take place, which is an undesirable feature.

The present invention is designed to overcome these objections and provides a single part to be operated upon for effecting the vertical adjustment, and so arranged, as to be positive in the adjustment, and prevent a slipping of the bulb from' its adjusted position. In this connection, I have provided a pinion, adapted to co-operate with rack teeth formed on the rear wall of the housing, or an auxiliary reinforcing plate, or an auxiliary guide plate, which is positioned uponthe rear wall of the casing, the guide plate being desirable in some instances and the reinforcing plate being necessary in others. In the present invention, the operative means for effecting the axial adjustment are projected through the pinion bearing means, used for effecting the vertical adjustment. The axial angles to the exterior facial plane of the pin-- ion bearing member. However, when the pinion bearing member is moved upwardlyy or downwardly, in order to effect the necessary vertical adjustment of the bulb, the screw which is used for effecting the axial adjustment will be carried out of the horizontal, and therefore inclined tothe facial plane of the pinion bearing member. To accommodate this relative movement of the screw to the pinion bearing member, I have provided a bore in the pinion bearing member, which is flared outwardly, as shown in the drawings hereto attached. In such an arrangement, it is desirable that the head of the screw lie constantly in engagement with the pinion bearing member throughout the major portion of its surface and to this end, I have provided a pinion bearing member with a semi-spherical nsI recess, or pocket, in which engages the semispherical recess or head of the screw. To arrange the parts in such a manner as to permit the tilting movement of the screw relatively to the pinion bearing member is another obj ect of the presentinvention.

In order to effect vertical adjustment of the bulbs, it isnecessary that there be provided a slot in the rear wall of the headlight casing. In order to present a rear wall of the desired appearance, it is quite necessary that some sort of a covering be provided for the slot, the covering having` the further function of sealing the interior of the casing.

In the present invention, there is provided a covering of this class, and I have shown rotates with the pinion bearing member; in

the other, I have provided a loose plate, which is so constructed and arranged as to move vertically on the rear wall of the casing, while, at the same time, being secured against a rotative or rocking movement.

The rear walls of some headlight casings are made of very thin material, so that they do not possess sufficient body to form rack teeth thereon, to co-operate with the teeth of the pinion to resist the strain which is placed thereon in making the vertical adjustment.

In the present invention, l have provided an auxiliary plate which may be secured to the rear wall of the casing and provided with teeth adapted to co-operate with the teeth formed on the rear wall of the casing.

rlhese and the other several features of the invention, which will appear as the description proceeds, form the basis of the present invention.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the in- -vention, showing parts in section, applied to a headlight,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken on substantially line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear eleva-tional view of one form of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on substantially line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modilied construction,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational View of a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 't' is a sectional view taken on substantially line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

As shown in the drawings, the invention is applied to a headlight shell 11 having a reflector 12 mounted therein, spaced from theA rear wall 13 of the casing 11. The rear Wall 13 is provided with a vertically extending elongated slot- 14. The reflector 12 is also provided with an opening 15 in which is slidably positioned the bulb soci-:et 16, suitably connected by the wires 17 to a source of electrical supply and adapted for the reception of the neck of the bulb 18 in the conventional manner.

The axial adjustment of the bulb, as well as the vertical adjustment, is desired for the purpose of properly focusing the filament of the bulb in co-operation with the reflector 12. It is also desirable that the bulb be adjusted in itself, so as to compensate for the variation in the relative location of the lilament in the bulb 18 and the trunnions which project from the neck thereof, and adapted for engagement in the slots formed in the socket 16. This adjustment, however, is not provided for in the present invention, as another arrangement is provided for rotative adjustment of the bulb which forms no part of and is not shown in the present invention. One of the edges of the opening 14 formed in the rear wall 13 is provided with rack teeth 19. In the form shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a separable plate 20 positioned in engagement with the inner surface of the rear wall 13, this plate 20 being provided with an elongated opening 22, substantially the same size as the opening 14 formed in the rear wall 13. As clearly seen in Fig. 2, one edge of the opening 22 is provided with rack teeth 21. A nut 23 is pro vided with a pinion 24 which is adapted to project into the openings 22 and 14 formed respectively in the plates 2O and the rear wall 13, the pinion 24 being adapted to mesh with the teeth 21 and 19. Formed in the nut 23 and the pinion 24 is a bore resembling in contour a Venturi bore, this bore having the flared portion 25 and the semi-spherical pocket, or recess portion, 26. The nut 23 may be termed a head for the pinion 24, although in its functioning, it serves as a nut for the purpose of receiving a wrench or other tool for effecting a rotating of the pinion 24 to cause the traveling of this pinion vertically along the casing wall 13. Projected through the bore inthe pinion 24 is a screw 28 having a semi-spherical hea-d 27 adapted to engage in the semispherical pocket or recess 26. As shown in Fig. 1, a washer 29 is positioned upon the screw 28 in embracing relation and serves as an `abutment for one end of a conical spring 30, which is mounted on the stem of the screw 28, in embracing relation and in engagement at its opposite end with a washer 31, positioned on the screw 28. Secured to the socket 16 by welding, or in any other suitable inanner, is a supporting arm 34 having one end formed into a U-shaped member, through one leg 32 of which is projected the screw 28 and into the other leg 33 of which is threaded the screw 28. The arrangement is such that threading of the screw 28 in the leg 33 will serve to move the socket 16 longitudinally, so as to effect what is termed herein axial adjustment of the bulb 18 relatively to the reflector 12. The spring 30 is normally under compression, so as to resist a movement or shaking of the various parts which are assembled together.

Since the -pinion 24 is in engagement with the teeth 19 formed on the rear wall 13 of the casing, it is evident that a rotation of the pinion will cause the pinion to move vertically. This vertical movement of the pinion will cause a tiltin of the bulb 18 by carrying the screw 28 out of the horizontal, the opening 15 formed in the reflector 12 being arranged to permit the desired tilting. The Venturi bore formed in the pinion 24 and the head or nut 23 permits a rocking of the screw 28 relative ly to the pinion and nut, so as to permit a 'sie vertical movement of the pinion and effect the -desired tilting of the bulb 18. The semispherically shaped head 27, will, on account of its shape and the shape of the pocket, or recess 26, serve as a closure for the opening formed in the nut 23 and the pinion 24, so as to prevent the entry into the casing 11 of foreign material. The plate 2O may be utilized When the rear Wall 13 is too thin to provide sufficient body Jfor forming teeth strong enough to stand up under ordinary Working conditions. In such a case, the plate 20 Would ordinarily be Welded, or otherwise suitably secured in fixed relation to the Wall 13.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, I have utilized the plate 20 as a friction member for resisting any attempt of the pinion to rotate unduly. As shown in Fig. 4, the plate 2O is provided with a bead 20', Which is adapted to engage in a channel formed in the Wall 13, this Wall having an outwardly projecting vertically extending bead 13. To close the slot formed in the rear Wall 13, I have provided, in the form shown in Fig. 1, a separate plate 35, which is provided With an opening for the reception of the pinion 34 and adapted to ride vertically with the pinion 24. In order to prevent a rotation of the plate 35, I have formed on it a bead 35 so as to provide a channel in the plate 35 for the reception of the bead or bit 13 formed on the rear Wall 13. Other ribs may be formed extending at angles to the rib or bead 35 so as to form a firm base for engaging the nut 23.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, I have further utilized the plate 20, as a locking member, to prevent rotation of the pinion 24 unduly by forming the teeth 21. on the plate 2() on the opposite side from the teeth 19, so that the pinion is required to move vertically the plate 20 in making its vertical movement. In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the nut 23 is provided with a flange 23 so that the plate 35 is dispensed with, the flange 23 serving to act as a closure to the slot or opening 14.

In Fig. 7, I have shown the plate 20 secured to the rear Wall 13, the teeth 21 being on the lsame side and registering With the' teeth 111,

the operation being otherwise the same as already explained. It is believed appar-ent from the description and the drawings that the various features of the invention pointed out are accomplished an-d that the utility and efficiency of the device is present.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of' structure, I do not Wish to limit myself to the precise forms of structure shown but desire to a-vailmyself of such variations-and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bulb adjusting device of the class described, adapted for use With a headlight having a casing provided With a rear Wall, a

reflector mounted therein, and a bulb socket movable with respect to said reflector, a rack and pinion mechanism; and means co-operating with said rack and pinion mechanism for effecting a transverse adjustment of said bulb with respect to the axis of said reflector, upon operation of said rack and pinion mechanism, and an axial adjustment of said bulb With respect to said reflector upon its indisaid pinion; and means projected through said head and said pinion for coeoperating therewith, for effecting-a transverse adjustment of said bulb with respect to the axis of said. reflector upon the rotation of said pinion, and adapted for individual operation for effecting an axial adjustment of said bulb With respect to said reflector, said means being tiltable with respect to said pinion and said head.

3. In a bulb adjusting device of the class described, adapted for use with a headlight having a casing provided with a rear Wall, a reflector mounted therein, and a bulb socket movable with respect to said reflector; a pinion adapted for projecting into a slot formedv in the rear Wall of said casing and for meshing with teeth formed on one of the edges of said slot; a head on said pinion, accessible from the exterior of said casing for rotating said pinion: means projected through said head and said pinion for co-operating therewith to effect a transverse adjustment of said bulb with respect to the axis of' said reflector upon the rotation of said pinion, and adapted for individual operation to effect an axial adjustment of said bulb with respect to said reflector, said means being tiltable With respect to said pinion and said head; and a closure for said slot adapted for permitting the rotation of said pinion.

il. In a bulb adjusting device of the class described, adapted for use With a headlight having a casing provided with a rear vvall, a reflector mounted therein, and a bulb socket movable with respect to said reflector; a pinion adapted for engagement in a slot formed the rear Wall of said casing, and adapted for meshing with teeth formed on one of the edges of said slot; a head mounted on said pinion, accessible from the exterior of said casing, for effecting a rotation of said pinion, there being formed through said pinion and said head, a Venturi bore; a screw projected through said bore; and a bracket, said screw being adapted Jfor threading into said bracket, the threading of said screw into said s bracketr effecting an axial adjustment of said bulb with respect to said reflector, and the rotation of said pinion effecting a transverse adjustment of said bulb with respect to the axis of' said reflector.

- 5. In a bulb adjust-ing device of the class described, adapted for use with a headlight having a casing provided with a rear wall, a reflector mounted therein, and a bulb socket movable with respect to said reflector; a pinion adapted for engagement in a slot formed in the rear Wall of said casing and for meshing with teeth formed on one of the edges of said slot; a head mounted on said pinion, there being formed in said head and said pinion a bore; and means operable independently of said pinion for effecting an axial adjustment of said bulb with respect to said reflector, said pinion being adapted upon ro tation to effect a transverse adjustment of said bulb, with respect to the axis of said refiector. said bore being formed to permit tilting of said independently operable means with respect to said pinion and said head.

y6. In a bulb adjusting device of the class described adapted for use with a headlight having a casing provided with a rear wall, a reflector mounted therein, and a bulb socket movable with respect to said reflector; a pinion; vertically arranged teeth for meshing with said pinion, said pinion being accessible from the rear of said casing for rotating; and means projected through said pinion for co-operating therewith to effect a transverse adjustment of said bulb with respect to the 40 laxis of said reflector upon the rotation of said pinion and adapted for individual operating to effect an axial adjustment of said bulb with respect to said reflector, said means being tiltable with respect to said pinion.

; 7. In a bulb'adjusting device of the class described adapted for use in a headlight having a casing, a reflector mounted in said casing and a bulb socket movably mounted with respect to said reflector; a pinion rotatably 5,0 mounted in a slot in said casing; a rack cooperating with said pinion to cause said pinionto move lengthwise of said slot upon rotation of said pinion; and rotatable means mounted on said pinion and cooperating with i said bulb socket and adapted to effect axial movement thereof upon rotation of said means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed the foregoing specification.

GUY H. COULTER. 

